NFL power rankings, Week 12: Patriots stand in way of Saints' perfect regular season

AP File PhotoQuarterback Drew Brees has the Saints off to an 10-0 start.Ranking the NFL's teams from best to worst:

1. New Orleans (10-0) -- New England, the first NFL team to complete a 16-0 regular season, is one of two teams remaining on the Saints' schedule with a winning record. The other is Dallas, which makes a trip to the Superdome for a Dec. 19 matchup. First things first, though: The Patriots are riding a six-game winning streak on “Monday Night Football” telecasts.

2. Indianapolis (10-0)

3. Minnesota (9-1) -- The ageless wonder, 40-year-old Brett Favre, is emerging as a front-runner for NFL MVP honors. He is tied for second in the league with 21 touchdown passes and has thrown just three interceptions. His next victim? The Bears, in the midst of a three-game losing streak, have surrendered 18 TDs through the air this season.

9. Pittsburgh (6-4) -- The quarterback position is becoming a major headache for the Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger, who's been reported as out for matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on NBC's “Sunday Night Football," suffered a concussion in an overtime loss at Kansas City last weekend. Backup Charlie Batch then broke his left wrist after replacing Big Ben in OT. That leaves second-year pro Dennis Dixon as the team's starter.

16. Atlanta (5-5)17. Houston (5-5)18. Miami (5-5)19. Tennessee (4-6)20. San Francisco (4-6)21. Chicago (4-6)22. N.Y. Jets (4-6)23. Carolina (4-6)24. Seattle (3-7)25. Washington (3-7)26. Kansas City (3-7) -- Since being dumped by the Chargers during their Week 8 bye, wide receiver Chris Chambers leads the Chiefs with 10 receptions for 249 yards and two touchdowns in three games. He'll get a shot at revenge against his old team and the AFC West leaders this afternoon.

31. Tampa Bay (1-9) -- The scapegoat of the week appears to be Buccaneers defensive coordinator Jim Bates. He got demoted following a 38-7 loss to the Saints. In his place, head coach Raheem Morris has added defensive play-calling duties to his responsibilities. Anyone else think Morris is in over his head?